Mitchell-Area FFA Members Earn Recognition at National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis – Mitchell Now

Mitchell-Area FFA Members Earn Recognition at National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis  Mitchell Now

Mitchell-area FFA members brought home national honors from Indianapolis, including proficiency award wins for students from McCook Central and Bridgewater-Emery MITCHELL, SD (Mitchell Now) — Two Mitchell-area FFA members won national proficiency awards, leading a slate of local students and chapters recognized at the 2026 National FFA Convention & Expo, held Oct. 21-24 in Indianapolis. Dylan McGregor of McCook Central won the national Beef Production Placement Proficiency Award. Landon Berg of Bridgewater-Emery won the national Sheep Production Proficiency Award. Both were recognized for their agricultural work through FFA. Area members also received recognition in speaking, agricultural education, team competitions and scientific research. Mitchell’s Yartezi Gonzalez Mendez received a participation pin in the Spanish Creed Invitational.

Summer Koch of Bridgewater-Emery earned a bronze rating in the Agricultural Education Invitational. Parkston received a gold rating in Horse Evaluation, while Freeman earned silver in Food Science and Technology. McCook Central received bronze in Conduct of Chapter Meetings. In the National FFA Agriscience Fair, McCook Central’s Skylar Stiefvater placed fourth in Social Systems, Division 1. Fellow chapter member Levi Horstman finished seventh in Environmental Services/Natural Resources, Division 1. Julianne Grady of McCook Central was a national proficiency finalist in Agriscience Research–Animal Systems. Howard’s Lacie Weber was a finalist in Outdoor Recreation. Members from Ethan, Bridgewater-Emery, Wessington Springs and McCook Central received the American FFA